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North students take a ride on ‘The Carousel’
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .North students Celina Dennis (left), Sophia Dedo, Frankie Garcia, and Zach Chachko enjoyed the Dec. 15 production of "The Carousel" so much that they were invited to take a closer look at the Zach Potter puppet after the show.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .To help Zach Potter see the damage he is doing by pushing away his family, Santa Claus sends the elf Squiggy (right) to Zach to help him reevaluate his life. The duo traveled to past Christmases with a ride on a magic carousel.
By SARAH FOOR
During their annual visit to North Elementary, Sadecky Puppets aimed to mix entertainment and an important message in their puppet production. Their production of “The Carousel” on Dec. 15 focused on the importance of trust and caring during the holidays.
The production followed the story of Zach Potter, a Scrooge-like character who lives with his son and his family, and pushes them away because he feels like a useless burden.
From the North Pole, Santa calls on an elf named Squiggy to urge Zach to reevaluate his life. Zach and Squiggy take a ride on an old carousel that takes them back in time to explore past Christmases.
First, Zach looks at his childhood during the Great Depression, where his father often traveled and spent time away to find work during the difficult times.
“Dad was always gone because he didn’t want to be with me,” Zach the puppet said during the show.
“Don’t you see? Your father loved you so much that he was always gone so that he could support you and take care of you,” Squiggy the puppet explained.
Squiggy showed Zach how he worked too much as an adult and didn’t spend time with his son. In the Christmas future, Zach continues to alienate himself from his family.
“You forgot to have fun and enjoy your family, Zach. Look for joy every day. It’s never too late to change,” Squiggy the elf said in the production.
In the end, Zach Potter learned his lesson and embraced the love of his family.
“I hope you take this lesson home with you — it is very important to appreciate your family during the holidays,” principal Tracy Kashak said at the end of the show.